Tritch Takes Dem Primary To Challenge Banks

The Democratic primary race for Indiana's 3rd Congressional District helped drive voter turnout in Allen County, more than tripling the number of the previous primary.

And party officials peg the turnout to first-time candidate Courtney Tritch, who easily won the three-way race to challenge Rep. Jim Banks (R) in November.

A Fort Wayne native, Tritch beat two perennial candidates in Tommy Schrader and John Roberson. According to unofficial results, Tritch won 79 percent of the votes across the district, which spans much of 12 counties in northeast Indiana.

Allen County Democratic Chairwoman Misti Meehan addressed the crowd Tuesday night at the Allen County Democratic watch party, praising praised the voter turnout. She said Allen County absentee voting more than doubled compared to the last primary, crediting candidates for reaching voters.

“That excitement is going through Allen County and all of the third district. And that’s hopeful, and that is what people need right now… is hope,” Meehan said.

Tritch said she has felt the momentum from the beginning of her campaign launch.

“We have seen that energy across the district, in every county. People are excited about having their voices heard again," she said. "Excited to have a candidate that listens to them and wants to run an issues driven campaign. And that’s exactly what we are doing.”

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Despite the testy nature of the race, Allen County GOP chairman Steve Shine says he hopes the three can set aside their differences, and for Braun to have support as he now looks to take Donnelly’s seat.

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According to Jones, Indiana residents don’t have to look further than the lost jobs at the Carrier plant in Indianapolis to see the President’s impact on Hoosier jobs.

While Jones said he appreciated the president making jobs a central campaign issue, he argues not much more has been done for workers since.

Today: we have highlights of the races in the May 8th primary election, along with reaction from winners and from the "Times" reporters and political observers who joined us on Tuesday night's four-hour broadcast.